Chargers' Dan Feeney, Austin Ekeler open up about rookie challenges

Chargers offensive guard Dan Feeney and undrafted running back Austin Ekeler took their rookie lumps in 2017 but also showed out plenty. And each sounded very mature and not overwhelmed about their transition from the college ranks to the NFL Thursday.

“Coming from college to here, [you think,] okay, it’s a step up, but then you get here, and it’s all football, all day. Don’t get me wrong, I love it. But it’s a big mental step up; you’re reading blitzes, you’ve got to see techniques. There are other guys you pretty much become a stalker of because you need to see what they’re doing,” Feeney said, per Los Angeles’ official website.

Meanwhile, Ekeler opened up about what was the biggest obstacle for him in his first year in the NFL in quite poignant fashion.

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“The mental part of the game was more challenging. Applying all of our schemes that we go through during the week to the field [and with] the speed of the game, it’s definitely something that I improved on but still need to get better at,” Ekeler said.

Feeney took over starting duties at offensive guard after left guard Matt Slauson went down for the year with a biceps injury Week 7, while Eleker racked up 539 scrimmage yards and five total touchdowns after not being selected in the 2017 NFL draft.

Los Angeles’ rookie 2017 class helped the team finish with a 9-7 record despite first-round selection, wide receiver Mike Williams, seeing limited playing time due to injuries and second-round guard Forrest Lamp being placed on injured reserve (IR) before the year started.

If Lamp is able to stay healthy moving forward, the Chargers 2017 draft class should contribute even more for years to come.